What is something you would love to see right now? The coral reefs of Fiji, outer space, or the colors outside our visual spectrum? What about a loved one or your best friend from college?
The human experience is saturated with beauty because it is saturated with God, who is infinitely beautiful. Imagine being in the dark and unable to see God’s craftsmanship. How devastating! The blind man in today’s Gospel missed out on all of these human delights and so much more. He was looked down upon as a beggar. As a blind person sitting on the side of the road, he didn’t know the dignity of work, and perhaps he had no one to care for him. Furthermore, the fact that he was scolded for making himself known signals that he likely lived a lonely and isolated life.
To the people of Jericho, the blind man was a poor nobody, but they didn’t see his gift of faith. He had nothing to lose by calling out to Jesus, the Son of David, because he knew Him, and to Jesus, the blind man was worth dying for. And so are we.
Jericho is a city of God’s victory where walls fall down and the blind see. God meets each one of us in our own Jericho to claim victory over the sin and death within us. He comes to tear down our walls and give us sight that we may clearly see the beauty of His face that shines upon us. Imagine Jesus’s face being the first thing you’ve ever seen. Let our prayer echo the blind man, “Lord, please let me see.” May the Lord let his face shine upon you. That’s enough beauty to last a lifetime.
¿Qué te encantaría ver ahora mismo? ¿Los arrecifes de coral de Fiyi, el espacio exterior o los colores fuera de nuestro espectro visual? ¿O capaz un ser querido o tu mejor amigo de la universidad?
La experiencia humana está saturada de belleza porque está saturada de Dios, quien es infinitamente bello. Imagina estar en la oscuridad e incapaz de ver las obras de Dios. ¡Qué devastador! El ciego del Evangelio de hoy se perdió todos estos placeres humanos y mucho más. Como mendigo, lo menospreciaban. Como ciego sentado al borde del camino, desconocía la dignidad del trabajo y quizás no tenía a nadie quien lo cuidara. Además, el hecho de que lo regañaran por darse a conocer indica que probablemente vivió una vida solitaria y aislada.
Para la gente de Jericó, el ciego era un don nadie, pero no vieron su don de fe. No tenía nada que perder al invocar a Jesús, el Hijo de David, porque lo conocía, y para Jesús, valía la pena morir por él. Y por nosotros también.
Jericó es una ciudad de la victoria de Dios, donde los muros caen y los ciegos ven. Dios se encuentra con cada uno de nosotros en nuestra propia Jericó para proclamar la victoria sobre el pecado y la muerte que llevamos dentro. Viene a derribar nuestros muros y a darnos la vista para que podamos ver con claridad la belleza de su rostro que nos ilumina. Imagina que el rostro de Jesús es lo primero que has visto. Que nuestra oración resuene con la del ciego: “Señor, que vea”. Que el Señor te ilumine con su rostro. Esa belleza es suficiente para toda la vida.
Former NPS Park Ranger, Catholic educator, and Youth Minister, Melissa Lucca now spends her days evangelizing family and neighbors as a stay-at-home mom. She holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and pursues personal study in her spare time. Melissa loves Ignatian Spirituality, Mother Mary, and rock climbing. If you don’t hear her and her kiddo laughing at home, then they are probably out on an adventure!
Feature Image Credit: Carl Schmauk, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/jesus-heals-the-blind-man-20571/
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
1-800-994-9817